SREL 112         3 Credit Hours

Introduction to Christianity

This information is for second semester 2017/2018 academic year

Teacher responsible

Dr. Cosmas Ebo Sarbah

Availability

This course is available open to all visiting students but only as a second semester course.

Course Content

This course is a survey of Christianity in its diversity. Using a ‘World Religions’ approach, it explores the origins, growth and the fundamental teachings of the faith as well as the variety of forms it has assumed in the historical process of its growth and spread across the world. The course will also introduce students to some of the modern ecumenical expressions of Christianity and how it seeks to maintain its unity in the context of the cultural diversity of the contemporary world.

Teaching

Methods of presentation include lectures, discussions and interaction with Christian religious leaders or their representatives.

Formative Coursework

There will be two pop quizzes. Students will be required to write a term paper, which must not be less than 3 pages and not more than 5 pages, in Times New Roman font 12, double space. A final examination (70% of total marks) designed to test student comprehension of material discussed in class, workshops and prescribed readings will be held as scheduled by the University’s examination timetable.

Indicative Reading

Will Deming, Rethinking Religion: A Concise Introduction (New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 5-11; Brian Wilson, Christianity (London: Routledge, 1999) [Forward by Ninian Smart].

Wilson, Chapter 2. T.M. Ludwig, The sacred paths: Understanding the Religions of the World (New York: MacMillan, 1989) pp. 130-132; John Foster, The First Advance (London: SPCK, 1985) pp.1-18.

Ludwig, pp 132-138; Jakob Ballings, The Story of Christianity: from Birth to Global Presence (Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmanns, 2003) pp. 5-17; Wilson, pp. 23-27.

Ludwig, pp 138-141; Wilson, pp. 26-27; Foster, 35-40.

Foster, pp. 66-83.

‘On Common Ground: World Religions in America: Introduction to Christianity’ (Harvard University: The Pluralism Project) pp. 8-14.

Web Documents: The Apostles’ Creed; The Nicene Creed; Ludwig, pp. 158-161.

Web Documents: The Apostles’ Creed; The Nicene Creed; Ludwig, pp. 162-171.

Afua Kuma, Jesus of the Deep Forest/Kwaeberentuw Ase Yesu (Accra: Asempa Publishers, 1980); Wilson, 92-95. J.K. Asamoah-Gyadu, African Charismatics: Current Developments within Independent Indigenous Pentecostalism in Ghana (Leiden: Brill, 2005) pp.1-35; C. N. Omenyo, Pentecost Outside Pentecostalism: A Study of the Development of Charismatic Renewal within the Mainline Churches in Ghana (Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 2006) pp.76-96; C. Omenyo & Abamfo Atiemo, ‘Claiming Religious Space: The Case of Neo- Prophetism in Ghana’, Ghana Bullentin of Theology (N.S), Vol.1 No.1, July 2006, pp. 55-68.

David Kpobi, Mission in Ghana: The Ecumenical Heritage (Accra: Asempa Publishers, 2008); J.S. Pobee, Celebrating the Jubilee of the World Council of Churches (Accra: Asempa, 1998), pp.19-34; Pobee, ‘All Africa Conference of Churches’ in Dictionary of Ecumenical Movement, pp.17-19; (Asempa, 1998), pp.17-19; Thomas F. Best, ‘Councils of Churches: Local, National Regional’ in Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement, pp. 255-263

Assessment and Grading

Grading Scale: